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The Effect of Mental Imagery on Professional Athletes

Autor:   •  February 23, 2016  •  Research Paper  •  4,980 Words (20 Pages)  •  793 Views

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Extended Essay in Group 3: Psychology

Title Page

The effect of Mental Imagery on professional

Athletes

By

Suphot Khurana

001044-0024

Ruamrudee International School

May 2015
Dominick Bruso (supervisor)

Word Count: 3984

Abstract

This essay evaluates the question: to what extent does mental imagery enhances performance in professional athletes? Mental imagery is a type of skill development; however, there are difficulties in deciphering whether mental imagery is the cause or by-product of athletic success. This essay is divided into four sections: analysis of major sectors governing mental imagery, examination of mental imagery techniques, evaluation of difficulties surrounding mental imagery and an inspection of an alternative skills development technique – self-talk.

 Mental imagery can be separated into two sectors: motor and visual imagery. The existence of the relationship between both sectors of mental imagery and athletic performance is supported by psychological research. Albeit pre-performance rituals and pattern-breaking routines fall under the two sectors of mental imagery, these techniques are emphasized because it stresses the reliability of mental imagery. Finally, self-talk - when athletes intend to motivate themselves through verbal accounts – is reviewed as an alternative to mental imagery.

The primary method of investigation to explore sectors of mental imagery was through interviews with two professional football players. The two subjects played professional football in different time periods thereby the differences between techniques utilized by both athletes illustrate an evolutionary progression in mental imagery. To support avant-garde’s obtained through interviews with statistics; recent psychological case studies and books were employed as the secondary method of investigation. As self-talk is a modern technique, the method used to gather information in this field was through a scrutiny of various web documents.

In conclusion, the reliable analysis of mental imagery sectors and techniques overshadowed self-talk as an alternative to mental imagery. Mental imagery enhances athletic performance in professional athletes to a large extent. Moreover, this technique is the most efficient when used before each training session. Mental imagery is the cause of athletic success.

Abstract word count: 295

Table of Contents

Introduction:        

Motor Imagery:        

Visual Imagery:        

Pattern breaking routines:        

...

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